Shipping crate



Oct. 22, 1935. I w. c. TUCKER 2,018,292

SHIPPING CRATE I Filed May 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor J4 Home y Oct. 22, 1935. w Q TUCKER 2,018,292

' SHIPPING CRATE Filed May 18, 1934 2 SheetsSheet 2 J fi a Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in shipping crates, and particularly to those crates which have a plurality of longitudinal and transverse partition rods which form compartments for the reception of bottles.

It is a well known fact that when bottles are placed in these crates, the weight of the bottles is supported solely by the bottom rods, the remainder of the rods serving only for the purpose of forming compartments for the bottles. As a result, usage of the crates and the consequent weight on these bottom rods cause them to sag, and to pull the partition rods out of position.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide means whereby the weight of the bottles in a crate is distributed equally among the bottom rods and the partition rods.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the rods of a bottle crate are maintained in a fixed position.

A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the bottom rods, and the longitudinal and transverse partition rods are simultaneously braced by the same supporting means.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a supporting means that will be economical to manufacture, and yet efficient in supporting the rods of a bottle crate.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred form thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved crate.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the crate, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and shows the longitudinal partition rods being supported.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the crate, taken on the line 3=3 of Figure 2, and shows the transverse partition rods and the bottom rods being supported.

Figure 4 is a view of the brace before being applied to the rods of the crate; and

Figure 5 is a view of the brace after being applied-to the rods. 7

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, 6 designates an ordinary milk crate, having the customary bottom rods I, and a series of longitudinal and transverse partition rods forming compartments for the reception of bottles.

In order to strengthen these rods in their respective positions in. the crate, I provide a brace 8 which is made of sheet metal, and which is substantially rectangular in configuration. One end 9 of the brace is bent upon itself, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. Im-" mediately above the end 9 are a pair of apertures' II] in spaced relation to each other. Each 5 of these apertures is adapted to receive a bottom rod I, and to consequently support the same. The upturned end 9 of the brace aids these apertures in supporting the bottom rods by having the extremity of the upturned end adjacent 10 the apertures, thus forming a support for the bottom rods as they pass through the apertures III.

Intermediate and above the apertures I0 there is an orifice II for the reception of the transl5 verse partition rod I2.

The other end of the brace has its center portion cut away to form fingers I3, which are adapted to grip the top longitudinal partition rod I4. Intermediate the fingers I3 and the end 9 along the longitudinal edges of the brace, there are provided fingers I5, which are so formed from the body 8 of the brace as to be integrally connected thereto. These fingers are adapted to grip the intermediate longitudinal partition rod I 6. That part of the brace intermediate the fingers I3 is cut away to form a semi-circular opening II, which supports the uppermost transverse partition rod I8.

In the use of the brace, the rods I and I2 are threaded through the openings I0 and II respectively before these rods are permanently attached to the crate. Then, when the rods I4, I6 and I8 are fixed in place, the fingers I3 and I5 are curled about the rods I4 and I6 respectively, While the semi-circular orifice I1 forms a support for the rod l8.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the weight of the bottles which would otherwise rest on the bottom rods I of the crate is transferred through the vertical brace 8 to the longitudinal and transverse partition rods, thus maintaining the rods of the crate in their fixed positions. The determination of the number of braces to be used in any given crate depends chiefly upon-the size of the crate. I have found that in the ordinary size milk crate two braces of the character described are sufiicient.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brace for supporting the rods of a bottle crate comprising a body piece, one end of said body piece being provided with fingers for engagement with a longitudinal partition rod, means intermediate said fingers for supporting a transverse partition rod, the opposite end being bent upon itself and having apertures adjacent the extremity of the upturnedend for the reception of bottom supporting rods, whereby said bottom rods are supported by said upturned end.

2. A brace for supporting the rods of a bottle crate comprising a body piece, one end of said body piece having apertures for the reception of the bottom supporting rods and being bent upon itself to permit the extremity of said end to lie adjacent said apertures to support said bottom supporting rods, the opposite end having fingers for engagement with a partition rod in transverse relation to the said supporting rods.

3. A brace forsupporting the rods of a bottle crate comprising a body piece, one end being provided with fingers for engagement with a par tition rod and having a semi-circular opening to receive a partition rod in transverse relation to said first mentioned partition rod, the opposite end being bent upon itself and having apertures adjacent the extremity of the upturned end for the reception of bottom sup-porting rods whereby said bottom rods are supported by said upturned end.

4. In combination with a conventional bottle crate having bottom supporting rods and transverse and longitudinal partition rods, a brace of unitary structure comprising a body piece, one end of said body piece being bent upon itself and provided with a pair of spaced apertures adjacent the extremity of the upturned end for the reception of the bottom supporting rods and to support the same, the opposite end being cut away edges thereof for engagement with a longitudinal a partition rod, said body piece having an aperture intermediate said last mentioned fingers and below and out of contact with the same to support a transverse partition rod immediately below said last mentioned longitudinal partition rod.

WOODSON C. TUCKER. 

